Augmented reality facts for kids

Augmented reality (often known as AR) is a cool computer technology that shows digital images on top of the current real world. For example, it can show a digital table on top of a floor. It is different from virtual reality which makes a person feel they are somewhere else. AR adds digital things to your real world.

How AR Works

Augmented reality uses special devices to mix digital information with what you see around you. These devices can be your smartphone, tablet, or even special glasses.

• First, a camera on the device sees the real world.
• Then, a computer program adds digital pictures or information onto that live view.
• Finally, you see this mix on your screen or through the glasses. It's like a see-through screen that shows both real and digital things at once!

AR vs. Virtual Reality

It's easy to get AR and virtual reality (VR) mixed up, but they are quite different.

• Augmented Reality (AR) adds digital layers to your real world. You can still see and interact with your actual surroundings. Think of a game where digital characters appear in your park.
• Virtual Reality (VR) completely takes you to a new, digital world. You wear a headset that blocks out the real world, making you feel like you are somewhere else entirely, like inside a video game.

Fun Uses for AR

AR is becoming very popular and is used in many exciting ways.

Gaming and Entertainment

Many games use AR to bring digital fun into your everyday life.

• One famous example is Pokémon Go, where you can find and catch digital creatures that appear in your neighborhood.
• Some apps let you play games where digital characters run around your living room floor.
• Social media apps use AR filters to add funny hats, animal ears, or special effects to your face in real-time.

Learning and Education

AR can make learning more interactive and exciting.

• Imagine pointing your tablet at a book and seeing 3D models of planets pop out of the page.
• Some apps let you explore ancient ruins or dinosaur skeletons as if they were right in front of you.
• Medical students can use AR to practice surgeries on virtual bodies, making learning safer and more effective.

Shopping and Design

AR is also changing how we shop and design things.

• You can use AR apps to see how furniture would look in your room before you buy it.
• Some clothing stores let you "try on" clothes virtually using your phone's camera.
• Architects and designers use AR to show clients what new buildings or rooms will look like in the real space.

The Future of AR

AR technology is still growing and getting better. Soon, we might see more advanced AR glasses that look like regular glasses. These could show us directions as we walk, give us information about places we look at, or even translate languages in real-time. AR has the potential to change how we learn, play, work, and interact with the world around us.

See also

In Spanish: Realidad aumentada para niños

Images for kids

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  Virtual Fixtures – first AR system, U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (1992)

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  Man wearing smartglasses

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  Headset computer

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  An example of an AR code containing a QR code

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  10.000 Moving Cities, Marc Lee, Augmented Reality Multiplayer Game, Art Installation

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  An AR mobile game using a trigger image as fiducial marker

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  Augmented reality system for soldier ARC4 (U.S. Army 2017)

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  Circular review system of the company LimpidArmor

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  LandForm video map overlay marking runways, road, and buildings during 1999 helicopter flight test